Rats Might Not Be Such Rats after All, Say Scientists

Pant, Shontee, The Christian Science Monitor

Are animals more human than we thought? Or is it humans who are
more animal-like?

Scientists are moving toward a startling conclusion: humans can
no longer claim that they are the only ones with an elevated sense
of morality. For instance, studies have found that chimpanzees will
give food to one another when given the opportunity. So will dogs.

Scientists are learning that prosocial behavior, that is helping
others with no direct personal benefit for oneself, is far more
common than previously imagined in the animal kingdom. Now, we can
include another animal in the growing club of creatures that appear
to be motivated by morality: rats.

New research work by Cristina Marquez and Marta Moita at the
Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon studies the prosocial
behavior of rats. Their research, which appears this week in Cell
Press, adds to the growing field of research on animal morality.

In order to measure rats' prosocial inclinations, Dr. Marquez and
Dr. Moita sought to answer a question. If given the opportunity,
would a rat give food to another rat, with no cost or benefit to
itself?

To find out, the researchers created a double T-maze with two
rats inside. One rat was assigned to be the "helper" and the other
the "partner." The helper had to decide whether or not to help the
partner get food.

By tapping the "nose port" on one door, the helper would get a
food pellet for itself. By tapping a port on another door, a pellet
would be dispensed to both the helper and the partner. Automation
allowed the researchers to ensure findings with minimal human
interference.

The researchers found that, 70 percent of the time, the helper
would tap the second door, dispensing food to both rats. Only one
out of the 15 rats studied would consistently make selfish choices,
said Marquez. …

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